VO2 becomes less important. As for strength training making you ...
<span class="a">www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_1/a-new-approach-to-strengt.shtml

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Basic running facts:

Running occurs one leg at a time.

Running is a game of GROUND reaction.

Running is made possible by the body’s structural and neuromuscular CROSS-WIRING of the shoulders and hips; we run shoulder to opposite hip.

Running speed = stride length x stride frequency.

Stride length is the dominant factor in running speed.

Stride length is a function of strength, power and flexibility.

Running efficiency is the great equalizer; less VO2 needed to run faster.

Collectively, stability and balance are the guiding system of the power needed for a longer stride length.

We run from our bellybuttons out (i.e. from the inside out) – not from the bottom up.

The core of the body is “command central” during all human movement, especially running. The CORE controls the rotational mechanics between the upper and lower extremities (running efficiency and stride frequency) and the force production of the lower body (stride length).

Mainstream strength programs:

Performed bilaterally – 2 legs / 2 arms simultaneous movement.

Performed sitting or lying down.

Performed symmetrically – 2 limbs doing the same thing at the same time.

Fred, when I post here that I am doing stretching and core work, these are the kinds of exercises I do. I have one set called "Dynamic Flexibility" and another for core work. Happy to send them on to you. Lots of activity ball for the hamstrings, step ups and downs, planks, etc.

These emails are driving me crazy! They actually have a link below, see it? It says "report a bug, provide feedback and suggestions". Go ahead and click on it. It sends you to a site that has gibberish on it, with a link that says "send an email". If you click on that link, nothing happens. What is the matter with these people? You can't even reply to them to tell them it's broken! Spareribs

Well Aloha everyone. Seems I made it through the "Portal" &lt;grin&gt; For all practical purposes consider me a FNG (friendly new guy) here. I turned Five Oh in October, so I'm fresh over 50! I am still undecided on my ultimate destination for forums, but I liked the crowd here...

I've decided as long as I can log in and post, I'll continue to do so. Spareribs, I got rid of the e-mails by clicking on the link on the upper left side of this page to stop e-mails. Also, you can click on "my active" at the top right side of this page and edit preferences to stop e-mails as well.

From Fred's post..."Stride length is a function of strength, power and flexibility." I run a lot of hills for strength and power, but the flexibilty thing is another animal. I'm curious if anyone here does anything to improve flexibility.

Sunday... 10 miles today at long run pace. It's tough to go long outside this time of year, 10 doesn't seem like much, but it'll have to do for now...

Ciao. Since you noted the difficulties of getting here, you understand that there have been some issues in the transition from CoolRunning to CoorlRunning (on Active.com). Many of CoolRunning's regulars have fled, but this is a community that is still alive. Check it out for a while, and you'll get a sense of who remains, and who we are. It's a community with a range of experience and a range of speeds. And a range of topics that are discussed. We set it up on a monthly basis. So welcome, and I hope you stick around, at least for a bit.

Towards the top-left of your screen you should see a small "Actions" menu. The choice at the top of the menu should say "stop email notifications" or "allow email notifications". You want it to be on "stop..." It's a toggle that switches back and forth between "stop" and "receive." It's easy to get confused when you see the choice to stop, thinking that's what you want to do, but you want leave it there once you have changed it.

A couple more things to remember:

You must be logged in for that menu to be available.

The option that you have enabled only applies to the thread you are participating in. If yout visit another thread you need to pay attention to what that menu is set to and change it if necessary.

Sunday - 9 miles in 8:40's, all but 2 miles on the grass. Groin soreness persists, but I can run on it without making it worse as long as I go easy. I could even get through a reasonably hard workout without much discomfort, but that would aggravate it; I just wouldn't notice it until later. That was the mistake I kept making when I had this thing last year. Hopefully it won't linger on so long this time if I'm more patient.

I think this site will be fine if we give it a chance. It wouldn't be a great shock to me if it became the most powerful of all of them, so far at what it allows you to do. Although it's not a big deal to me, the one thing they will need to get busy on is that log. I didn't realize how important it was to so many people, but it obviously is.

I moved my log over to RunningAhead (which was a pretty easy migration).

Jim, where to you find that much grass? There was a LetsRun post on where Iona College works out, and in addition to my trails (OK, so I'm proprietary) and the hill on which I do much of my hill work, it mentioned a 2K route in a local park. From reading Running with the Buffaloes, I'm always trying to find a nice grass place for speed work.

JP used an analogy in another thread (I think it was JP) that this community is like a church. It's not the building (it's the people). This is the most experienced and knowledgeable bunch on the forums. So if ya'll are going to stay; I'm staying too. Ruth said your people will be my people and your God my God. So you are my people.

In taper mode. No run today will run only about 45 this week with a 9 and 13 as long runs. Next week about 25 miles. Then I have to put my big mouth on the starting line.

I started a log at RA too, but won't start recording mileage in until the 1st. This will be the first time I've ever kept one online. I will continue to keep my own Excel version as I have for many years.

Finding a suitable spot is the big catch to running on the grass. It's not easy, but I came up with 2 parks that work for me. One gives me a .4 mile loop and the other is good for 1.4 miles per loop. They are both used for soccer, but the larger one can handle 3 games at once while the small one can handle only one. Most people would probably get too bored, but as someone who once ran a full marathon (solo) on the track, I don't mind at all. I've tried it before and didn't care for it, but what has kept me hooked on these 2 places is the way the grass is kept up. It's thick and well groomed, providing a great cushioned ride. I really like the way it feels under my feet. When I started running better I developed a positive association too. The places I tried before were too lumpy or hard underneath and I just didn't like the way they felt.

I'm almost sure that the tenderness I've devleoped around the hip and groin has come from running that marathon on the pavement, and then 2 weeeks later following it up with race-long run-race, within a period of 8 days-all on paved, hilly routes.

There are some good people here and they can run too! I think we could field a couple teams in both 50's and 60's divisions that would given even the toughest clubs a run for their money.

Stick around...

Hi KS,

The countdown is on, heh? I think that the waiting is even more nerve wracking when you know you are in top shape because expectations are so high. All you need is reasonable conditions and you will shine.

Thanks with respect to running on grass. Have you ever tried doing some of it in bare feet?

KS,

Just to be clear, I'm not a if you think you can do it you can kind of guy. When I said that you should aim for 3:00 and had a shot at it, I meant that I really think you have a shot at it. Keep it under control, and go for it. At this point, it's about running smart, having done the work you need to have done.

Fred,

Here's a DVD from Kansas State. (No comments please KS.) There are a good number of previews on-line. I got the download version so I could load it onto my MP3 player and take it to the track. Although some of the exercises are done on the ground, the focus is on building core strength.